Detecting at beaches...

[GuyinWH]

Hey all, went to honeymoon island this weekend and had a pretty good time. Even brought the wifey and the dog along haha.

Anyways, i only dug up junk. Still learning the Infinium and all its bells and whistles. Did dig up one old penny though, cant tell how old so I have to clean it up still. Anyways, before i was about to leave, I noticed an older gentleman (i thought) and i asked him how he was getting into water waist deep when they basically told me (guards at the gate) that I was not allowed into the water with the detector. He said he got a special permit to find someones ring that let him search the whole area (sounded like a load of BS to me). Guy was really rude and spoke down to me like some disease or something. Anyways, besides almost wanting to send him back to his geriatrics specialist.. What are the laws concerning MDing in beaches here then? Because I hear one thing somewhere and then get another load of BS somewhere else. Heck if its really restricted that bad I'm gonna get a permit like this schmuck that was "looking for someones wedding ring". Cause I sure as hell was as well.

Any help is appreciated thanks.


Oh, just reread through this, and wanted to make sure you all understand, i was nice to the guy I mentioned above. Even after he acted rude and hateful I still maintained my composure and spoke to him politely.

 

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[chipveres]

State park beaches in Florida are a bit of a puzzle. Some believe you can detect from the toe of the dunes to the high tide mark. Others believe you can only detect below the high tide mark. A check at the ranger station will get you the rules and sometimes a free permit.

As to aggressive oldsters, it is remarkable to me how many just came down from up north, yet they own Florida.

Chip V.

 

[Diver_Down]

State park beaches in Florida are a bit of a puzzle. Some believe you can detect from the toe of the dunes to the high tide mark. Others believe you can only detect below the high tide mark. A check at the ranger station will get you the rules and sometimes a free permit.

As to aggressive oldsters, it is remarkable to me how many just came down from up north, yet they own Florida.

Chip V.

And even then, you won't get a straight story. Some State Parks restrict detecting altogether (Washington Oaks). At Anastasia State Park, the rangers still haven't agreed upon a consensus. Some have said the dry is the only area and others have said the wet. Others could care less. Just ask and be sure to note who granted you the permission. If Ranger Joe stops you while your in the water, at least you have recourse that Ranger Jane said you could.

 

[Jon Phillips]

The "law" states that at STATE PARKS...you can only detect from the high tide line to the tow of the dunes. In other words: newly dropped coins/jewelry/poptops in the dry sand area for sunbathers. They don't want you to find anything "historical" that might be in the water...even though it would more than likely be the same coins/jewelry/poptops. Now that is up to the discrection of the park rangers, and they may ban it alltogether. Plus...To add to the confusion...state parks that are also historical sites will be off limits to detectors except for the rare case of looking for someones recently lost ring or car key etc, and in that case you are supposed to get a permit, and show the ranger the precise area you need to search, as well as be observed by a ranger until you are done.

At regular public beaches there is no limit unles it falls under some city or county ordinace banning it.

National Seashores and federal land is 100% off limits.

Nothing man-made over 50 years old is to be removed from "navigable waterways" lakes, ponds, rivers, creeks, even if there is no water in them at the time. I don't know if they make an exception for coins as some of the federal statutes do....

Now are you even more confused?

 

[GuyinWH]

Yeah, that's terrible.

I've read over a few places that say its the low tide line that you can get to. And to be honest with you, I don't recall seeing MDers NOT go into the water at one point or another. But, I like to be extra cautious with these things. Tell you what though, if I'm gonna need a permit for this stuff, state offices will soon be slammed with permit requests; I'll annoy the hell out of them. And the day they ban it all together they will hear from me as many times a day for as long as its necessary till they fix this load of hogwash.

Any state website with the legal information on it available? I saw a link on here the other day and followed it only to stop looking 2 hours later because I'm pretty sure I followed every link and link after those links looking for anything relevant.

 

[Jon Phillips]

There is a thread on here somewhere that has the cut and paste of the part that applies to metal detecting, but remember, that restriction is only for state parks (and federal land). All other beaches and private property as well as county and city parks (unless stated otherwise at the park) is just fine to metal detecting.

The best thing to do is ask the park rangers....they might be very easy-going.